Dr Hughes' diverse background has given him a wide range of experiences.

He was an experimenter on the British satellites Ariel 3 & 4 making synoptic measurements in the magnetosphere of naturally occurring VLF waves and of ground based VLF transmittters. He was also an experimenter on Skylark rockets launched from Australia to measure the impedance of a dipole in a magnetoplasma. He's worked as a researcher in Space Physics at the University of Sheffield and at launch sites in California and South Australia. Dr Hughes worked for short periods at the Atlas Computing Laborator; The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston; British Aerospace, Bristol and the Weapons Research Establishment, South Australia.

Dr Hughes was a professor of Physics and Director of the University of Natal’s Geospace Physics programme in Antarctica. He chaired the National Committees of COSPAR and SCOSTEP. He was a member of the National Committee of URSI and Chairperson of Commission H (Waves in Plasmas). He was a national delegate to COSPAR (member of finance committee) and SCOSTEP and member of the National Committees for the IPY and IHY.

Dr Hughes founded and chaired the University of Natal's Astronomy Society.

Quote:

"It has been a great privilege to work at UKZN with a succession of bright and enthusiastic research students, many of whom have gone on to become professors and senior researchers overseas."

Position:

Professor Emeritus

Qualifications:

PhD
MSc
MA
BA

Discipline:

Physics

Campus:

Westville

Telephone:

+44 1142307942

Email:

arthur.r.w.hughes@gmail.com

Research Areas:

Whistler and lightning research.
VLF wave-particle interactions in the magnetosphere, particle precipitation into the atmosphere and the particle triggering of lightning. The exploration of properties of the plasmasphere using VLF waves.
VLF satellite experiments and the use of satellite data on waves and particles.